Chess Openings·Three Knights Game

Open Game

Three Knights Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4

Step through

6 / 6
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

One of the oldest and most trodden paths in the game. The move order is kept loose so several set-ups stay available. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4 · e5. Nothing has been captured yet. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
6 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
28
Minor pieces out
White 2 · Black 2
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/1b2P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 4 4

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…Nc6Black: Knight b8→c6
  5. 3.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  6. 3…Bb4Black: Bishop f8→b4

Nearby lines

first 5 moves shared

Four Knights Game…Nf6Four Knights Game, Spanish Variation…Nf6 Bb5Four Knights Game, Scotch Variation…Nf6 d4Halloween Gambit…Nf6 Nxe5Ruy Lopez…Bb5Italian Game…Bc4

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Three Knights Game?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 6 moves it is White to move.